The IRB Sevens World Series was introduced for the 1999-00 season, and has since become a major event for fans worldwide. As the elite-level Sevens competition the series has fostered many young talents and also brought the game to new levels of popularity.

The series is contested over eight legs in Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Hong Kong, Australia, England and Scotland. There are 16 competing teams divided into pools of four, although 24 teams enter in Hong Kong. Points are awarded for finishing top of the Cup, Bowl and Plate tournaments, with the side that has amassed the most points by the end of the series being crowned winners.

There are currently 12 core nations who compete in all events - they are: Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, USA and Wales.

New Zealand have won eight titles, while Fiji have won one in 2005-06.